

The Political Orphanage
Andrew Heaton
Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 13, 2024 • 1h 31min
Trump, RICO Law, and Lawyer Sex
Exploring the prosecution of Donald Trump under RICO law in Georgia, the complexities of racketeering, legal ramifications for the Trump Organization, analyzing intent in politics, connecting Trump to election fraud, controversy surrounding Fanni Willis' trial, speculative legal scenarios, and a deep dive into the McDonald's coffee lawsuit.

Mar 6, 2024 • 2h 2min
The Economics of Illegal Immigration
Exploring the US-Mexican border, they discuss immigration dynamics, border walls, economic impacts of immigration, H-2A farm worker program challenges, and the need for smarter immigration policies. Includes humorous anecdotes about editor replacements and speeding hazards.

Feb 28, 2024 • 50min
The New Mao
Exploring Xi Jinping's consolidation of power and extended reign. Analyzing his ambitions and ideology, along with China's evolving global role. Understanding the differences between Marxism and Leninism. Power dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party and Taiwan's historical evolution.

10 snips
Feb 21, 2024 • 2h 12min
America is Eleven Different Countries
Dive into how America's regions imprint on cultures and politics, exploring Quaker influence, agriculture shifts, Scots Irish settlers, and Latin American complexities. Discover unique cultural distinctions in different states and regions, challenging stereotypes and discussing the evolution of American identity. Examine the roots of American anti-culture, imperial American culture, and political predictions, including a forecast of an armed rebellion within three years.

4 snips
Feb 14, 2024 • 1h 3min
Working with Commies and Frenchmen
Guest Alain Bertaud, feted urbanist with experience in city planning in communist China, Algeria, Cuba, and France, shares insights on working in command economies, challenges of affordable housing, subsidies for art and culture, contesting France's pension system, red wine myths, French Revolution glorification, comparing dictators, and reflections on protests and the Alamo in Texas.

Feb 7, 2024 • 55min
The Politics of Artificial Intelligence
Explore the political bias in AI systems, its impact on elections and national sentiment. Discuss the ideology behind Elon Musk's use of AI and shifting political perspectives. Highlight the challenges of engaging in productive discussions and the difference between nuanced policy views and polarized social media debates.

Feb 1, 2024 • 56min
The Two Kinds of Independents
Exploring independents in New Hampshire, with anecdotes from a Nikki Haley concert and a visit to a Libertarian Clubhouse. Examining historical party affiliation trends and the rise of independent voters. Discussing the ineffectiveness of heckling and the importance of finding common ground. Emphasizing taking control and being a problem solver. Debating the challenges of libertarian politics and the influence of the Libertarian Party in New Hampshire.

Jan 26, 2024 • 1h 5min
Knocking Trump Off the Ballot
Anna Gorisch discusses the case against Donald Trump's eligibility, focusing on the removal from the ballot in Colorado and Maine. They explore the constitutional qualifications, provisions in the constitution, and the definition of insurrection. Debate centers on states' power to remove federal candidates, and the implications of removing Trump. The hosts analyze the arguments presented in a court decision and discuss the potential negative response to the court's involvement.

Jan 17, 2024 • 1h 1min
Iowa, Ancient Greece, and Rome
The podcast explores the philosophical underpinnings of the American political system, drawing parallels between ancient Greece and Rome. It discusses the significance of the Iowa caucuses and questions the traditional practice of state-by-state primaries. The chapter delves into the differences between direct democracy and representative democracy, emphasizing citizen participation. It also touches on historical events and figures in Iowa, explores the mindset differences of Republicans and Democrats, and showcases the unique culinary delights of Iowa.

Jan 16, 2024 • 51sec
Announcement: Live Show in New Hampshire! Saturday, January 20th
Hosts announce a live show in New Hampshire featuring Jen Briney. They invite people from all political affiliations in the area to attend the meetup at Cher Brewing Company in Manchester.